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I know it's been asked before... but I'm hoping some folks can give me some ideas of places to check out in Mountain View. I *may* be moving out that way (nothing definite) but I'm trying to get a bit of a head start on at least having an idea of where to look in case I do and need to move quickly. I've got a lot of criteria (picky picky ) which narrow down my choices considerably:
"Must Have:"
- Easy biking distance to Google. In this case the term biking distance includes literal distance (I prefer < 4 miles) but also no intervening highways or obstacles that can't be crossed by bike or roads you can't safely ride on.
- Prefer walking distance to downtown Mountain View - but it looks like the only thing that meets that bill is heinously expensive SFH (if you can find one for rent at all) and the equally heinously expensive Park Place apartments. So I'll take biking distance to downtown MV as well.
- 2 bedrooms or a 1 bedroom with den. 1 Bath is fine. Basically just need a small guest room. If I do this I'd be moving cross country so getting people to visit will be hard enough as it is. I want a place for visitors to sleep .
- "Nice" area. From what I've seen I'd prefer to avoid the "Rengstorff apartment row" area.
- "Nice" place. I don't need a brand new unit or brand new remodel but prefer something that is at least reasonably updated inside.
"Greatly Prefer:"
- In unit washer and dryer. This used to be a "must have" but my research shows it is basically non-existent. Which is beyond me - even the cheapest fleabag subsidized housing units in my current area have a washer and dryer, yet in Cali it seems to be a luxury not found in some $2800 apartments. Makes no sense to me, but I guess it is what it is. I can always hire some kind of laundry service!
- Some kind of A/C. Doesn't need central - just a window unit or support for one I buy - so I have a place to escape to on the few hot days.
Budget: Prefer <= $2500. Could conceivably go as high as $2800.
From what I've seen, the Whisman Station area may fit the bill. Easy ride down Stevens Creek trail to Google and quick to downtown as well. Central Park @ Whisman Station apartments come to mind, as well as individual condo units for rent.
Avalon Mountain View may be possible, and even has washers and dryers, but reviews on the place seem negative and the price seems very high for the size of the units. Location is close to downtown but also close to apartment row. Would expect slightly lower rents considering.
Avalon Creekside seems a bit too old / rundown to fit my bill but maybe it's worth checking out? The location is certainly pretty good.
How about the area near Middlefield & Shoreline (e.g., Shadows Apartments)?
Well, I previously lived in Park Place. I would agree that they're overpriced, but I guess its all about location, location, location. You're probably not going to get much better than this in Mountain View. I think Avalon Towers on the peninsula may be as nice, if not nicer, but the location will not work for you and the price is probably just as high.
The new apartments under construction near Caltrain are probably going to be the nicest in Mtn. View once built (early 2013), but the price will likely be even higher than Park Place.
I think Central Park at Whisman Station may be the best bet, per your earlier comments. All the others you've mentioned (and those that I saw when I was looking) probably fall short of your criteria. Near DT Mtn View, there aren't many other nice complexes, to be honest. Avalon Mtn View is ok, but its not as nice as Park Place, either for location or finishes. There are some on or near Rengstorff which are ok, but the location isn't great. I would stay clear of Creekside to be honest. The location is great, right by Stevens Creek Trail, but they're sort of a dump.
You may also want to look at "The Americana". Once they finish the Stevens Creek Trail overpass over 85 (hopefully in the next few months), you'll be able to easily bike to Google. and they are likely better priced, being away from downtown. Other than that, you may want to look at some of the older apartments off Middlefield (near Stevens Creek trail) or renting one of the condos in Whisman Station (if you can find a rental).
- In unit washer and dryer. This used to be a "must have" but my research shows it is basically non-existent. Which is beyond me - even the cheapest fleabag subsidized housing units in my current area have a washer and dryer, yet in Cali it seems to be a luxury not found in some $2800 apartments. Makes no sense to me, but I guess it is what it is. I can always hire some kind of laundry service!
- Some kind of A/C. Doesn't need central - just a window unit or support for one I buy - so I have a place to escape to on the few hot days.
If you are going to work for google, you will have an on-site washer and drier there. I know it is more convenient to have it home, especially if you are biking, but having it at workplace has its advantages too.
As for the A/C, I don't really think it is necessary, especially in Mountain View. Even if the temperatures get somehow higher, there is a very low humidity which makes it much better. I think I used A/C in my apartment only for one day in the past two years. On the other hand I remember using a heater quite often even during the summer months. And if the weather gets really bad and you need a place to escape, go to San Francisco, but don't forget to take your jacket .
Otherwise I have never rented anything in Mountain View so I can't really help
As for the A/C, I don't really think it is necessary, especially in Mountain View. Even if the temperatures get somehow higher, there is a very low humidity which makes it much better. I think I used A/C in my apartment only for one day in the past two years.
I disagree. Many of the apartments have poor air circulation and if you're on a busy street, it can be too loud to keep the windows open at night. If its in the 80s during the day, the apartments may be a bit uncomfortable at night without A/C.
I disagree. Many of the apartments have poor air circulation and if you're on a busy street, it can be too loud to keep the windows open at night. If its in the 80s during the day, the apartments may be a bit uncomfortable at night without A/C.
This was my thought. Using a window unit is generally an option, but of course built in is easier.
Avalon Mountain View may be possible, and even has washers and dryers, but reviews on the place seem negative and the price seems very high for the size of the units. Location is close to downtown but also close to apartment row. Would expect slightly lower rents considering.
I lived in Avalon Mountain View for just under two years and would not recommend it at all, for the following reasons.
1. Overpriced compared to comparable properties. (I had a pet, which severely restricted my choices. If you are not so constrained, you have many choices.) Even more overpriced after their "remodeling" in 2008, which used the cheapest possible materials. Bathtub started peeling paint within days. Why a bathtub would even have paint to peel is beyond me.
2. Small apartments with bad layouts. Kitchens and bathrooms have no windows. Not much natural light. Mold issues in the bathroom.
3. Surly staff which does nothing for current residents but instead focuses on bringing in new ones. If you want any maintenance or even simply to pay your rent, you have to deal with the corporate office in Virginia.
4. They'll do things like take away your parking spot, which is designated as yours in the lease, so they can spend a month resurfacing the parking lot, and the only compensation you will receive for this is a $50 Safeway gift card.
5. Some of the units are "below market rate" and they won't tell you before you move in that one of these is your neighbor, so you can end up with some pretty ghetto people hanging around, throwing cigarette butts and trash on your patio, fighting and/or having loud sex with each other at all hours, letting their kids run around screaming, etc.
6. Electricity outages seemed to happen at least once a month. Also, cell phones don't work inside the apartments for some reason.
7. There's a Superfund site right next door (former site of Jasco Chemical Company, 1710 Villa Street), which of course they don't disclose to you as a prospective tenant:
8. The apartments to the rear of the complex are right next to the Caltrain tracks. Fortunately I lived near the front and the noise wasn't a major issue, but you'll still certainly hear the trains blowing their horns every 30-60 minutes throughout the day and evening.
9. There was a window A/C in the living room, but I found it to be very ineffective. The rest of the apartment was not air conditioned at all. This was OK initially as I had a big tree providing shade outside my bedroom window, but they cut it down after I had been living there for a few months :-(
I didn't completely hate living there, as the location was pretty convenient, but given the above considerations, the place was laughably overpriced. I wasn't at all sorry to move out. At least they gave me my full deposit back.
How about the area near Middlefield & Shoreline (e.g., Shadows Apartments)?
This is the area I was going to suggest. It's about half way between Castro Street and Google. Definitely bikeable to Google, but I don't know about walkable to Castro.
See if you can find someone renting out one of the condo units in willow park at the corner of middlefield/moffett. Easy commute via path to Google (about a 10 minute ride-and the path goes under 85 and 101, and 10 minute walk to downtown Mountain View. I rented there for 3 years while working at Google, it was a good location and nice unit overall. It had no A/C but i think many of the units do. And the laundry is on-site but not in-unit. Good luck!
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) which narrow down my choices considerably:
